• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.439-445
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• 2010

Pretreatment with Taraxacum Mongolicum H(TMH) prior to the administration of on $CCl_4$ significantly prevented the increased serum enzymatic activity of aminotransferase(ALT, AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT) and bilirubin concentration in dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with TMH also significantly restored the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione content in the liver $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. The restoration of microsomal aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities indicated the improvement in functional status of endoplasmic reticulum. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also essentially prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic study. TMH showed antioxidant effects in $FeCl_2$-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and in superoxide radical scavenging activity. Our results suggest that the protective effect of TMH against $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity possibly involve mechanisms related to its ability to block p450-mediated $CCl_4$ bioactivation and free radical scavenging effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2016

Due to undesirable hazardous interactions with biological systems, this investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure to silver on certain biochemical and some oxidative stress parameters with histopathological examination of brain, as well as the possible protective role of selenium and/or vitamin E as nutritional supplements. Thirty six male rats were divided into six groups of six each: the first group used as a control group. Group II given both vitamin E (400 mg/kg) of diet and selenium (Se) (1 mg/L) in their drinking water. Group III given silver as silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) (20 mg/L). Group IV given vitamin E and $AgNO_3$. Group V given both $AgNO_3$ and selenium. Group VI given $AgNO_3$, vitamin E and Se. The animals were in the same exposure conditions for 3 months. According to the results which have been obtained; there was an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase activities and cholesterol level, a decrease in serum total protein, calcium and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in Ag-intoxicated rats. Moreover, the findings showed that $Ag^+$ ions affected antioxidant defense system by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increasing vitamin E concentration with a high level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue. The histological examination also exhibited some nervous tissue alterations including hemorrhage and cytoplasm vacuolization. However, the co-administration of selenium and/or vitamin E ameliorated the biochemical parameters and restored the histological alterations. In conclusion, this study indicated that silver could cause harmful effects in animal body and these effects can be more toxic in high concentrations or prolonged time exposure to this metal. However, selenium and vitamin E act as powerful antioxidants which may exercise adverse effect against the toxicity of this metal.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2018

Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the active ingredients of herbal plants such as Nigella sativa L. (NS) which has beneficial effects on the body. The beneficial effects of TQ on the cardiovascular system have reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on cardiac fibrosis and permeability, serum and tissue concentration of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress status in chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure in male rats. Methods: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: (1) control; (2) LPS (1 mg/kg/day); (3-5) LPS + TQ with three doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg (n=14 in each group). After 3 weeks, serum and cardiac levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, and cardiac levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, permeability of heart tissue (evaluated by Evans blue dye method) and myocardial fibrosis were determined, histologically. Results: LPS administration induced myocardial and perivascular fibrosis and increased cardiac oxidative stress (MDA), inflammatory markers and heart permeability, while, reduced anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the total thiol group. Administration of TQ significantly attenuated these observations. Conclusion: TQ improved myocardial and perivascular fibrosis through suppression of chronic inflammation and improving oxidative stress status and can be considered for attenuation of cardiac fibrosis in conditions with chronic low-grade inflammation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, organ weight, biochemical parameters of blood, heart and liver, and ascites susceptibility of broilers at different ages reared under a low-temperature environment. A total of 420 1-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments with fifteen replicates of fourteen broilers each. Treatment diets consisted of L-carnitine supplementation at levels of 0 and 100 mg/kg. At 11-d of age, low temperature stress was used to increase ascites susceptibility. Blood, heart and liver samples were collected at different ages for analysis of boichemical parameters. The results showed that, there was no significant difference in growth performance with L-carnitine supplementation, but the mortality due to ascites was significantly decreased. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced heart index (HI) and ascites heart index (AHI) on d 21, lung index (LUI) on d 35 and liver index (LI) on d 42. The broilers fed diets containing L-carnitine had significantly lower red blood cell counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) concentration and hematocrit (HCT) on d 42. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content of heart tissue on d 21 and 35, and significantly increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the heart on d 21 and 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum triglyceride (TG) content on d 28 and 35 and serum glucose (GLU) on d 35 and 42, and significantly increased serum total protein (TP) and globulin (GLO) content on d 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly enhanced liver succinodehydrogenase (SDH), malic dehydrogenase (MDH) and $Na^+$-$K^+$-ATPase activity on d 28, and tended to reduce the lactic acid (LD) level of liver on d 35 (p = 0.06). L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA) content on d 28, 35 and 42. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that dietary L-carnitine supplementation reduced organ index, red blood cell counts and hematocrit, enhanced antioxidative capacity of the heart, enhanced liver enzymes activity involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle, and reduced serum glucose and triglyceride. Therefore, it is suggested that L-carnitine can potentially reduce susceptibility and mortality due to ascites.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1440-1446
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• 2011

The study investigated the effects of dietary Vitamin E (VE) on nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, immune function and analyzed the correlation between NO free radical and cytokines (IL-2 and IL-6) in broilers. One hundred and fifty 2-week-old broilers were randomly divided into three groups. Control group and lower VE ($VE^-$) group were provided with a basic diet supplemented with 12.55 mg/kg VE and 2.55 mg/kg VE for 30 days, respectively. Higher VE ($VE^{-}-VE^+$) group was supplemented with 2.55 mg/kg VE in the first 15 days and then 32.55 mg/kg VE in the next 15 days. Five broilers in each group were then sacrificed on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days, respectively, and the content of NO free radical, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines, IL-2 and IL-6, were measured. The results showed that lower VE could decrease growth performance of broilers while higher VE could increase growth performance and eliminate differences resulted from feeding lower VE dietary in early stages (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, lower VE could increase significantly NO and MDA concentration, and increase IL-2 concentration in serum (p<0.05). Higher VE could significantly increase activities of SOD and glutathione GSH-Px (p<0.05). IL-2 is positively correlated with NO in heart (p<0.05) and IL-6 is negatively correlated with NO in liver (p<0.05) and heart (p<0.01). These results indicate that dietary VE could regulate antioxidant capacity and NO metabolism of broilers and higher VE-supplemented diet could directly decrease production of IL-2.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1153-1158
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 and its effects on growth performance and antioxidant status in weaning piglets. The survival in hydrogen peroxide and free radical-scavenging activity of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 were analysed in vitro. The Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 showed high viability in 1.0 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide and high scavenging ability against hydroxyl, superoxide anion, and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radicals which was dose dependent. Ninety-six weaning piglets were selected ($7.45{\pm}0.79kg$) and divided into three groups comprising of negative control without any supplementation, treatment group with supplemented $6.8{\times}10^7$ Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 CFU/g of diet, and positive control with antibiotic treatment (chlorotetracycline, 80 mg/kg diet). The results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 supplementation enhanced feed conversion rates in piglets compared with control (p<0.05). Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 increased the concentration of superoxide dismutase (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase (p<0.01) and catalase in serum (p<0.10), while decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (p<0.05). The present study implies that the strain Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 had high antioxidant ability and its supplementation improved the growth performance and antioxidant status of weaning piglets, so it can be considered useful to alleviate oxidative stress and increase productive performance of pigs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.685-694
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• 2009

This experimental study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of ethanol extract of modified Yukgunja-tang(mYGJT) on high-fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia in Sprague-Dawley rats, Animals were divided into normal, control, mYGJT(100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) treated groups. Obesity with hyperlipidemia was induced by high fat diet treatment for 6 weeks. mYGJT was given to the amimals by oral gavage for 4 weeks, starting at the high-fat diet regimen, The effect of mYGJT on the differentiation of 3T3 L1 adipocytes in vitro and serological paramamters for obesity and hyperlipidemia in vivo were evaluated, mYGJT significnatly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3 L1 adipocytes in a concentration dependent manner. mYGJT treatment siginficantly reduced body weight, abdominal and epididymal fat weight, and FER(Food Efficiency Ratio) compared with control group in a dose dependent manner. It also signficantly inhibited the levels of serum total lipid, triglyceride, phospholipid, total cholesterol, LDL, AI(Atherosclerosis Index) and returned the serum HDL to normal. Total lipids, triglycerides and cholesterols in the liver, as well as malondialdehyde(MDA) and hydroxy radical in the serum were significantly reduced. However, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity was significantly increased in mYGJT treated group compared with control group. Finally, mYGJT treatment signficantly decreased the MDA and protein carbonyl concentrations of the hepatic homogenate but signficantly increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and Catalase. Taken together, these results suggest that mYGJT can be clinically useful in inhibiting high-fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1053-1064
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• 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the interactive effect of a glycine equivalent (Gly_equi) and standardized ileal digestible threonine (SID Thr) levels in low crude protein diets on performance, blood biochemistry, pectoral muscular creatine content and oxidative stability of meat in broiler chickens from 21 to 42 days. Methods: A total of 1,500, twenty-one-day-old Cobb-Vantress male broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized 5×3 factorial arrangement of Gly_equi×SID Thr with five replicates of 20 birds each. Fifteen dietary treatments of 16.5% CP were formulated to contain five levels of total Gly_equi (1.16%, 1.26%, 1.36%, 1.46%, and 1.56%) and three levels of SID Thr (0.58%; 0.68% and 0.78%). Results: Interaction effects (p<0.05) of Gly_equi and SID Thr levels were observed for weight gain, carcass yield, pectoral muscular creatine content and serum uric acid. Higher levels of Gly_equi increased (p = 0.040) weight gain in 0.58% and 0.68% SID Thr diets compare to the 0.78% SID Thr diet. The SID Thr level at 0.68% improved (p = 0.040) feed conversion compared to other SID Thr diets. Levels of Gly_equi equal to or above 1.26% in diets with 0.78% SID Thr resulted in birds with higher (p = 0.033) pectoral muscular creatine content. The breast meat yield observed in the 0.68% SID Thr diet was higher (p = 0.05) compared to the 0.58% SID Thr diet. There was a quadratic effect of Gly_equi levels for pectoral pectoral muscular creatine content (p = 0.008), breast meat yield (p = 0.030), and serum total protein concentrations (p = 0.040), and the optimal levels were estimated to be 1.47%, 1.35%, and 1.40% Gly_equi, respectively. The lowest (p = 0.050) concentration of malondialdehyde in the breast meat was found in 0.68% SID Thr diets at 1.36% Gly_equi. Conclusion: The minimum dietary level of Gly_equi needed to improve performance in low crude protein diets is 1.26% with adequate SID Thr levels for broiler chickens.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2000

To evaluate an effect of aging on the xylene toxicity, 50% m-xylene in olive oil (0.25 ml/100 g body wt.) was administered to 5 week and 12 week-old rats one times intraperitoneally and sacrificed at 24 hrs afterwards. The increasing rate of urinary m-methylhippuric acid concentration was higher in 12 week-old rats than 5 week-old rats by the treatment of m-xylene. On the liver function findings, i.e., liver weigh/body weight (%), serum levels of ALT activity and hepatic malondialdehyde content, 12 week-old rats showed more severe liver injury than 5 weeks those in xylene-treated rats. And the hepatic cytochrome P-450 contents was higher in 12 weeks rats than those of in 5 week-old rats, but the increasing rate of that was lower in 12 week-old rats. Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also higher in 12 week-old rats than in 5 week-old rats whereas the increasing rate of that was higher in 5 week-old than those in 12 week-old rats by the xylene treatment. Furthermore, the hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were no differences between the 5 and 12 week-old rats both in the control and xylene-treated group. In conclusion, age may influences upon the hepatotoxicity with xylene and it may be responsible for xylene metabolism in rats.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.296-300
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of Lycii fructus Extract (LFE) against the acute hepatotoxicity-inducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the liver. LFE of 100 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1.5 ml/kg for 20 days. On the day 21, 1.5 ml/kg of LPS dissolved in saline was injected 4 hours before anesthetization. We examined the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum of rats, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mitochondrial fraction, and malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenate. LPS-treatment markedly increased the levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and MDA, and significantly decreased those of SOD, CAT and GPx. But LFE-pretreatment decreased the levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and MDA, by 17.7%, 27.5%, 40.7% and 56.9%, respectively and increased those of SOD, CAT and GPx, by 90.5%, 78.9% and 83.8%, respectively. These results showed that the LFE had the preventive effects against the acute hepatotoxicity-inducing LPS in the liver.